Novation KS Rack

The Novation KS Rack Synthesizer. This instrument is a multi-timbral, enhanced version of the popular KStation keyboard synthesizer. The design of the has evolved from the KStation and KS 4 / KS 5, using the very latest award-winning Novation technology found in highly-acclaimed products such as Nova and Supernova II. The KS Rack is capable of producing an enormous range of high quality synthesized sounds and is an ideal machine for a home studio set-up or for an experienced producer looking to add an extra dimension of sound power

Main Features

Four hundred Program memories

Two hundred factory programmed sounds are included and a further two hundred user sound memory locations are provided (factory programmed sounds may be overwritten).

One hundred Performance memories

Fifty factory programmed multi-timbral Performances are included and a further fifty user Performance locations are provided (factory programmed Performances may be overwitten).

Each Performance can consist of up to four different Programs, each with its own unique effects settings, MIDI channel assignments and keyboard settings. Program data for each Performance Part are stored in the Performance memory location.

Four Drum Maps

Two factory programmed Drum Maps are included with a further two user Drum Maps available (factory programmed Drum Maps may be over-written). Drum Maps allow a whole drum kit to be mapped across 49 notes of the keyboard with each drum sound available on a different key. Drum Maps consume only one unit of Multi-timbrality.

Powerful Oscillators

Three Oscillators provide the standard Sawtooth, Square, Variable Pulse, Triangle and Sine waves. Additional sampled waveforms are also available, each containing complex audio information not available in the standard waveforms.

The Sawtooth, Triangle and Sine waveforms may be duplicated within a single Oscillator to provide thicker sounding waveforms. Synchronization and FM between two Oscillators allow the generation of metallic or percussive timbres. A four section noise source completes the waveform engine.

External Audio Input

The Mixer allows an external audio signal to be combined with the Oscillators and processed through the Filter, Envelopes and Effects. Envelopes may also be auto-triggered by an external signal.
Vocoder

The 16 band Vocoder makes it easy to create Robot and Talky sound effects.

Four Arpeggiators

The arpeggiator features six different operational modes with adjustable gate time for staccato effects. Thirty two rhythmic patterns are available to introduce complex motion effects. In multi-timbral Performance Mode, up to four arpeggiators are available simultaneously, each with their own unique settings. All four arpeggiators can can be individually synchronised to MIDI Clock at different time signatures.

When selected, synchronisation settings to four Effects and four Program parameters are instantly applied. Settings for the Delay level, Chorus Level, Panning Depth and EQ Modulation Depth are also applied. Using these tempo synchronized features can significantly enhance music production.

Comprehensive MIDI Control Specification

Adjustments of any controls transmit MIDI Controller numbers or NRPNs for real time recording by a sequencer or computer.

Powerful Effects

The effects processor includes Distortion, Stereo Chorus, Phaser, Reverb, Synchronized Delay and Synchronized Stereo Panning. Complex, dynamic timbres may be created using tempo synchronized effects settings. A final output EQ and Filter section complete with a tempo synchronized LFO allow for a performance to be automatically filtered and time locked from 32nd triplets through to several bars.

In multi-timbral Performance Mode, each of the four individual Parts can have its own unique Effects settings.

Data Compatibility

The KS Rack has been designed to allow the loading of Sysex data dumps from the Novation K-Station and A-Station. This ensures that existing sound libraries and global settings can easily be transferred from the older types of machine. Data is also fully compatible with the Novation KS 4 and KS 5 synthesizers.